Attachment for motor boats



June 10, 1930.

G. GUNDERSON AL ATTACHMENT FOR MOTOR BOATS Filed July 29. 1929 G'ear e umiersan RTBa07lus,-

Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE euivnnzason, JOHN nmoxson, AND RODIVIAN r. BAGKUS, or SALERNO,

FLORIDA ATTACHMENT FOR MOTOR BOATS Application filed July 29, 1929. Serial No. 381,994.

This invention relates to an attachment for motor boats, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth for convenient access to a propeller and its stuf- 5 fing boX'or bosses for the purpose of substituting a new propeller, as well as to enable the cleaning of a propeller when foul and for adjusting the stuifing box or boxes of the latter without raising the boat out of the water.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

an attachment for motor boats whereby convenient access can be had from the interior of the boat to the propeller to enable cleaning of the latter, or rather for the purpose of cleaning the propeller of any obstructions, such as ropes, nets, grass, wires, etc, as well as to enable one to change the propeller or 2 adjust the stufling box thereof without the necessity of raising the boat out of the water, and further whereby access for the purpose referred to can be had in a manner to pre vent water from entering the boat.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an attachment for the purpose referred to so constructed and arranged to enable one to ascertain from the interior of the boat the condition of the propeller.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an attachment for the purpose referred to where by the operation of the propeller can be readily viewed from the interior of the boat.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, ina manner as hereinafter set forth, an an attachment for the purpose referred to whichpis simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly eflicient in its use, conveniently manipulated to permit access to the propeller of the boat, readily installed with respect to the boat and comparatively inexpensive to set up.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction,ycombination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing the adaptation of an attach- B0 ment in accordance with this invention installed with respect to a motor boat.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the plug element and its mounting of the attachment and further illustrating said element 55 and mounting installed with respect to the bottomof a boat.

Figure 3 :is a top plan view of the plug element and its mounting.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the mount- Y0 ing for the plug element and with the latter not shown.

Referring to the drawings in detail 1 denotes the bottom of a motorboat and 2 the stern thereof. The rudder is indicated at 3, steering post at 1 and its pivot at 5 which is mounted in the rear end of a rearwardly extending support 6 coupled with the bottom 1 by a brace 7. Interpo'sed between the support 6 and the bottom 1 is a standard 8 provided with a stopping box 9 for the propeller shaft 10. Carried on the rear of the shaft 10 and interposed between the standard 8 and rudder 3 is the propeller 11. a

The foregoing elements are illustrated by way of example for the purpose of showing the adaptation of an attachment in accordance with this invention with respect to the propeller 11 andstopping boX 9. The only change required in a motor boat for the purpose of attaching an attachment in accord ance with this invention therewith resides in the providing of the bottom 1, in proximity to the stern 2 and directly over the propeller 11 with an opening 12. 9d The attachment includes a plug mounting consisting of a sleeve 13 which snugly engages the wall of the opening 12 to prevent leakage. The sleeve 13 at its bottom is formed with a laterally extending, annular flange 14 which snugly abuts the lower face of the bottom 1 and is fixedly connected therewith by any suitable means. The sleeve 13 is of a height greater than the height of the opening 12 and in proximity to its top edge is formed with a laterally extending, annular'flange 15 which snugly engages the upper face of the bottom 1 and is formed with openings 15 for lugs of each pair are arranged in spaced relation and in parallelism. As illustrated four pairs of lugs are formed on the upper face of the flange 15, but this number can be increased or diminished if desired. The number of pairs of lugs correspond to the number of coupling arms, to be presently referred to, formed on the plug element of the attachment. Connected to the lugs of'each pair and disposed transversely thereof is an attaching member 18 which passes through the head 19 of a threaded bolt 20 forming a part of the clamping device for the plug element to be presentlyreferred to. The bolt 20 is positioned between the lugs of a pair and carries 'on its upper end awing nut 21 which provides the other'part of the clamping device;

3 The plug element includes a -tubula'r body portion provided with an annular head 23 of a thickness materially greater than that of body portion 22. The head 23 extends inwardly and outwardly with respect to the inner andouter faces of body portion 22 and provides a shoulder 24 disposed inwardly at right angles with respect to the inner face of body portion 22; The head 23 exteriorly of the body portion 22 is formed with an inverted, annular channel or groove 25 in which is mounted a gasketor packing member 16' and into which is adapted to extend the top of the sleeve 13. See Figure 2. The inner side of the head 23 is rounded or beveled as at 26. The head'23 is formedwith a series of radially disposed arms 27 corresponding in number to the number of pairs of lugs 17. Eacha-rm 27 is-formed with an opening 28 for the passage of the bolt 20. The wing nuts 21- seat upon the upper faces of the arms 27. The body portion 22 of the plug element snugly engages the inner face of the sleeve 13.

Positioned against t-heshoulder 24 is a transparent member 29 which is fixedly maintained in position by a band or ring 30 secured'to the inner face of the body portion 22; The top edge of the ring 30 abuts the lower face of the transparent member 29 at the-marginal portion thereof. The ring 30 can be of any desired height. The transparsired to have access to the "15 is a hollow, vertically extending member 31. of any suitable height so that it extends above the water line. The member 31 c0nstitutes a receptacle and prevents the water from entering the boat when the plug element is removed from its mounting when it is depropeller for any desired purpose. 7

The plug element is maintained in watertight position by the clamping devices in connection with the gaskets or packing members 16. The latter acts to seal the joint between the head 23 and the upper end of the sleeve 13. When the plug is in closure position with respect to the sleeve 13 the bottom edge 31 of the body portion 22 will be flush with the lower face of flange 14.. The plug element can be quickly disconnected from'its mounting to enable one to have convenient access to the propeller 11 for the purpose of clean ing it, or for changing the propeller or for adjusting the stopping box. Therefore, it is thought the many advantages of an. attachment in accordance with this invention and for the purpose set forth can be readily un- I derstood, particularly in view of the fact that it does not necessitate the raising of the boat out of the water to have access to the propeller, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated and described, yet it is to beunderstood that changes in the details of construction can be had which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What we claim is: 1. 'An attachment for motor boats comprismg an annular mounting adapted toextend through the bottomof the boat and provided with upper and lower flanges adapted to be anchored against the upper and lower faces respectively of said bottom, a tubular plug element for extension into said mounting and having a transparent closure at its upper portion, said element and upper flange of the mounting having coacting means for remov ably connecting the upper end of said element to the mounting in a water-tight manner. I a

2. An attachment for motor boats comprismg an annular mounting adapted to extend through the bottom of the boat and provided with upper and lower flanges adapted to be anchored against the upper and lower faces respectively of said bottom, a tubular plug element for extension into said mounting and having a transparent closure at its u per POItIOD, said element and upper flange of the mounting having coacting means for removably connectlng the upper end of saidele ment to the mounting 111 a water-tight manher, said mounting having a portion thereof extended above said upper flange for exten sion into said element near the upper end of the latter.

3. An attachment for motor boats comprising an annular mounting adapted to extend through the bottom of the boat and provided with upper and lower flanges adapted to be anchored against the upper and lower faces respectively of said bottom, a tubular plug element for extension into said mounting and having a trasnparent closure at its upper portion, said element and mounting having coacting means for relnovably connecting the upper end of said element to the mounting in a water-tight manner, and means adapted to be mounted on the bottom of the boat, surrounding and extending above the upper end of said plug element and providing means to prevent Water from entering the boat when the plug element is removed from said mounting.

4. An attachment for motor boats comprising an annular mounting adapted to extend through the bottom of the boat and provided with upper and lower flanges adapted to be anchored against the upper and lower faces respectively of said bottom, a tubular plug element for extension into said mounting and having a transparent closure at its upper portion, said element and mounting having coacting means for removably connecting the upper end of said element to the mounting in a water-tight manner, said mounting having a portion thereof extended above said upper flange for extension into said element near the upper end of the latter, and means adapted to be mounted on the bottom of the boat, surrounding and extending above the upper end of said plug element and provid ing means to prevent Water from entering the boat when the plug element is removed from said mounting.

5. An attachment for motor boats comprising a sleeve adapted to extend through the bottom of the boat directly over the pro peller, upper and lower flanges integral with said sleeve and adapted to be anchored respectively against the upper and lower faces of said bottom, a plug element including a tubular body portion for positioning in said sleeve and snugly engaging with the inner face thereof, a head at the upper end of said body portion, a transparent closure for the upper end of the body portion, said closure arranged within and secured to said head, means carried by the head and coacting with said sleeve to provide a water-tight joint between the body portion and sleeve, and said head and upper flange having coacting means for detachably clamping the head With the sleeve and further to provide a water-tight joint.

6. An attachment for motor boats comprising a sleeve adapted to extend into the bottom of the boat directly over the propeller, upper and lower flanges integral with said sleeve and adapted to be anchored respectively against the upper and lower faces of said, bottom, a plug element including a tubular body portion for positioning in said sleeve and snugly engaging with the inner face thereof, a head at the upper end of said body portion, a transparent closure for the upper end of the body portion, said closure arranged within and secured tosaid head, means carried by the head and coacting with said sleeve to provide a water-tight joint between the body portion and sleeve, said head and upper flange having coacting means for detachably clamping the head with the sleeve and further to provide a water-tight joint, and means for mounting on the top of the bottom of the boat and surrounding said upper flange to prevent water from entering the boat when the said head and body portion are removed from the sleeve.

7 An attachment for motor boats comprising a mounting for extension through an opening at the lower face of the bottom of the boat directly over the propeller, a tubular plug element removably extending into said mounting and provided with a transparent closure, and means at the upper portion of and adjacent the top edge of said mounting I.

for detachably connecting said element upon the top edge of said mounting to provide a water-tight joint between the mounting and said element.

8. An attachment for motor boats comprising a mounting for extension through an opening in the bottom of the boat directly over the propeller and for securing to such bottom, a tubular plug element removably extending into said mounting and having a transparent closure intermediate the ends thereof, said element of a height to extend above the upper face of the bottom of the boat, and the upper end of said mounting and upper end of said element having coacting means for detachably connecting the element upon the upper end of the mounting in a water-tight manner.

9. An attachment for motor boats comprising a mounting for extension through an opening in the bottom of the boat directly over the propeller and for securing to such bottom, a tubular plug element removably extending into said mounting and provided with a transparent closure, means for detacl1- ably connecting said element upon the upper end of said mounting to provide a watertight joint between the mounting and said element, and means adapted to be mounted on the bottom of the boat and extending upwardly from the upper end of said mounting to prevent water from entering the boat when the plug element is removed from the mounting.

10. A11 attachment for motor boats comprising a mounting for extension through an opening in the bottom of the boat directly over the propeller and for securing to such bottom, a tubular plug element removably extending into said mounting and having a transparent closure intermediate the ends thereof, said element of a height to extend above the upper face of the bottom of the boat, the upper end of said mounting and upper end of saidelement having coacting means for detachably connecting the element upon the upper end of the mounting in a watertight manner, and means adapted to be mounted on the bottom of the boat and extending upwardly from the upper end of said mounting to prevent water from entering the boat when the plug element is removed from the mounting.

11. An attachment for motor boats comprising an annular mounting adapted to extend through the bottom of the boat and provided with upper and lower flanges adapted to be anchored against the upper and lower faces respectively of said bottom, said upper flange positionedbelow the top edge of said mounting, a tubular plug for extension into said mounting and having a transparent closure at its upper portion, said element and upper flange of said mounting having coactingmeans for reniovably connecting the upper end of said element upon the top edge of the mounting in a water-tight manner.

12. An attachment for motorboats comprising an annular mounting adapted to extend through and opening in the bottom of the boat and provided with an upper and a lower flange adapted to be anchored respectively against the upper and lower faces of said bottom, a tubular plug element for extension into said mounting and having a transparent closure at its upper end, said element having a portion of its upper end positioned over the top edge of said mounting, and means carried by the upper flange and engaging with the top of the mounting for removably con-' necting the upper end of said element upon the top edge of the mounting in a water-tight manner.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures hereto.

JOHN ERICKSON. GEORGE GUNDERSON. RODMAN' T. BACKUS. 

